Given its contribution to the war effort, the snarling Hawker Tempest has been given one very long shaft by the model manufacturers. When the most celebrated release is a warmed-over re-release with some included resin that literally cannot be made to fit, well, you get the idea.
It looks like that will be changing in 2013, with the release of not one but two 1/32 Tempest kits, one from Pacific Coast Models and the other from Special Hobby.
I will be reviewing the PCM Tempest when it is released, but for now, here’s a first look at the kit.
The box art, as per usual for PCM, is awesome, portraying the Tempest in its element.
The fuselage halves and stabilizers
The wings
Another plastic sprue
Clear parts
Resin gear bays and exhausts
Markings for five aircraft
Decals by Cartograf
Stay tuned for more as the Tempest nears release.
In the meantime, you can pre-order the Tempest straight from PCM if you’re so inclined.
This is great news as it fills a big hole in the growing 1/32 Sopwith/Hawker collection! One possible correction, I think the Special Hobby kit IS the PCM kit. I’m pretty sure SH does PCM’s kits for them and I’ve noticed that since the SH kit was announced a few months ago we haven’t heard anything about it ’til the PCM release. No worries, I think PCMs kits have improved since the initial, Italian releases and their Spits and Hurries are quite good (if still requiring some application of modeling skills). Looking very much forward to this one!
Michael
Per Ken @PCM it’s not the same kit – they’ve had Sword doing their plastic since starting with the Reggiane Re.2005 I believe. So they are indeed different kits.